San Diego Padres - TeamReport

Left-handed starting pitcher Cory Luebke is likely headed to elbow reconstruction surgery as soon as the end of this week according to Padres manager Bud Black.

"I think Cory is leaning strongly toward having the surgery," said Black. "When he adds everything up, all the opinions, this is the (course) of action. It's a very tough decision."

Luebke, who has consulted a number of experts and former players, has Black's backing on the decision to go ahead with the surgery.

"In my opinion, the surgery is the right thing to do at this point," Black said after the Padres' 13-inning, 3-2 win over the Angels Sunday at Petco Park.

Luebke was not at Petco Park Sunday to confirm Black's assessment.

Black made his initial remarks earlier Sunday after the Padres announced that Luebke was being transferred from the 15-day to 60-day disabled list to open a spot for right-handed reliever Matt Palmer on the 40-man roster.

Luebke has been on the disabled list since making his last start at San Francisco on April 27. At first, Luebke's problem was listed as elbow tightness. But a subsequent MRI revealed damage to the ulnar collateral ligament -- which is repaired via a ligament transplant in a procedure called "Tommy John surgery."

After that MRI, Luebke said "Tommy John surgery" and extended rehabilitation were his only options. And if the rehab failed, Luebke would then need the surgery six-to-eight weeks from now -- pushing back his return in 2013. The 27-year-old pitcher has been getting more expert opinions over the past two weeks.

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MLB Team Report - San Diego Padres - NOTES, QUOTES

--CF Cameron Maybin had 40 infield hits last season, the second-highest total in Padres history. He has two through the first quarter of the 2012 season. That partially explains why Maybin is hitting .210 this season compared to .264 last season. If you added eight hits to his 2012 stats at the one-quarter mark of the season, Maybin would be hitting .267.

--LF Jesus Guzman loves to hit at Petco Park, where he has a .305 career batting average. But he's not excited about fielding balls hit into the left-field corner. "You never know what is going to happen," he said. "Sometimes the ball rolls out along the fence. Sometimes, it stops when it hits the foul pole at that gate. And sometimes, I've seen a ground (ball) climb the wall outside the foul line and roll out behind the outfielder. "It's crazy."

--1B Yonder Alonso has hit safely in 19 of the last 22 games in which he has an at-bat, going 32-for-83 (.386) with 11 doubles, a homer and 10 RBI. Alonso had two doubles Sunday, marking the fifth time this season that he has had a two-double game. The club record for two-double games in a season is six, shared by Tony Gwynn (1993) and Adrian Gonzalez (2007). Alonso has 14 doubles, putting him on pace for a 54-double season. The Padres' single-season record is 49 by Gwynn in 1997.

--LHP Clayton Richard, who is scheduled to start Monday night in St. Louis, hit and ran the Padres to their 3-2, 13-inning victory over the Angels Sunday in San Diego. Richard, who was 0-for-16 with 10 strikeouts as a hitter this season, pinch-hit with two-out in the bottom of the 13th and singled to left -- making him 2-for-2 as a career pinch-hitter. He then scored from first, running on a full-count pitch as Will Venable singled to left then raced to the plate when Angels sub LF Howard Kendrick fumbled the ball.

--RHP Matt Palmer was promoted from Triple-A Tucson Sunday to become the long man in the Padres bullpen. The Padres made the decision Thursday, but Palmer was starting that night. So RHP Nick Vincent was promoted for two days until Palmer could get some rest.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "That game was nuts. So many things happened. You have to have it. It's good to win, but I think it'd be tougher to lose a game like that. You don't want to play that long and lose. Losing a game like that could be devastating. Winning is big." -- 1B Yonder Alonso's assessment of the importance of winning Sunday's 13-inning marathon against the Angels at Petco Park.

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MLB Team Report - San Diego Padres - ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

--SS Jason Bartlett (knee cartilage) was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 17 and is not guaranteed to have a job when he is healthy.

--LHP Cory Luebke (left elbow strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 28. As of mid-May, he was considering whether to have season-ending Tommy John surgery. He was transferred from the 15-day to 60-day disabled list on May 20.

--OF Mark Kotsay (sore lower back) was hurt May 12, and he didn't play May 13-20. He is day-to-day.

--OF Jeremy Hermida (strained adductor muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 27. He underwent sports hernia surgery May 15, and he could be out until late June.

--2B Logan Forsythe (left foot surgery in March 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 5. He began a 20-day rehab assignment with Class AAA Tucson on May 14.

--LF Carlos Quentin (arthroscopic right knee surgery in March 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He began taking batting practice April 19 and participated in fielding drills April 26. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Tucson on May 1, then moved his rehab to Class A Lake Elsinore on May 9. He didn't rejoin the Padres on May 11 as expected, leading to speculation his knee isn't healed. He received a cortisone injection May 15 and could be nearing a rehab assignment.

--RHP Joe Wieland (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 7.

--RHP Micah Owings (right forearm strain) went on 15-day disabled list April 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 8. He will be out until at least June 26.

--RHP Huston Street (posterior right shoulder strain) went on the 15-day disabled list May 5. He is expected to be out for longer than the minimum 15 days.

--LF/1B Kyle Blanks (torn labrum in left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list April 14, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 2. He had season-ending surgery April 24.

--RHP Dustin Moseley (torn labrum in right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list April 8, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 26. He underwent season-ending surgery April 25.